D-Maze TTL Interface
24 events · simple 6-byte · single BNC
Overview
The D-Maze TTL interface maps 24 infrared sensors across the double-T (D-shaped) maze layout, providing fine-grained spatial tracking for complex decision-making and navigation studies. Each sensor is encoded as a letter A through X.
With 12 zones and 2 sensors per zone, the D-Maze TTL output gives electrophysiology and imaging systems a complete picture of the animal trajectory through the maze, including approach, choice, and return segments.
TTL Event Map
simple protocol6-byte frame115200 baud10ms resolution
| Event | Code | Sensor | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| IR010 | A | Zone 1 entry | Animal enters zone 1 |
| IR011 | B | Zone 1 end | Animal reaches end of zone 1 |
| IR020 | C | Zone 2 entry | Animal enters zone 2 |
| IR021 | D | Zone 2 end | Animal reaches end of zone 2 |
| IR030 | E | Zone 3 entry | Animal enters zone 3 |
| IR031 | F | Zone 3 end | Animal reaches end of zone 3 |
| IR040 | G | Zone 4 entry | Animal enters zone 4 |
| IR041 | H | Zone 4 end | Animal reaches end of zone 4 |
| IR050 | I | Zone 5 entry | Animal enters zone 5 |
| IR051 | J | Zone 5 end | Animal reaches end of zone 5 |
| IR060 | K | Zone 6 entry | Animal enters zone 6 |
| IR061 | L | Zone 6 end | Animal reaches end of zone 6 |
| IR070 | M | Zone 7 entry | Animal enters zone 7 |
| IR071 | N | Zone 7 end | Animal reaches end of zone 7 |
| IR080 | O | Zone 8 entry | Animal enters zone 8 |
| IR081 | P | Zone 8 end | Animal reaches end of zone 8 |
| IR090 | Q | Zone 9 entry | Animal enters zone 9 |
| IR091 | R | Zone 9 end | Animal reaches end of zone 9 |
| IR100 | S | Zone 10 entry | Animal enters zone 10 |
| IR101 | T | Zone 10 end | Animal reaches end of zone 10 |
| IR110 | U | Zone 11 entry | Animal enters zone 11 |
| IR111 | V | Zone 11 end | Animal reaches end of zone 11 |
| IR120 | W | Zone 12 entry | Animal enters zone 12 |
| IR121 | X | Zone 12 end | Animal reaches end of zone 12 |
Setup Instructions
- Connect the TTL module via USB and note the COM port.
- In ConductMaze Settings > TTL, select the COM port and set baud rate to 115200.
- Connect BNC output to your recording system digital input.
- Set pulse duration (default 1000ms). For dense sensor arrays, consider shorter pulses (100-500ms) to avoid overlap.
- Test each zone sensor individually before running experiments.
Common Pitfalls
- ⚠With 24 sensors in a compact maze, rapid transitions between adjacent zones can generate events within the 50ms inter-frame window. Monitor for dropped events during fast runs.
- ⚠Zone numbering in the software (1-12) maps to letter codes (A-X) sequentially — zone 1 = A/B, zone 2 = C/D, etc. Verify your mapping before analysis.
Methods Text (Copy-Paste)
Navigation events were synchronized with neural recordings using the ConductMaze TTL module (ConductScience, Skokie, IL). The D-Maze configuration encoded 24 IR sensor events across 12 zones as 6-byte serial frames (115,200 baud, 10ms resolution), delivered via BNC to the recording system.
Suggested text for the Methods section of your manuscript.
Compatible Products
ME-OC-TTL
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